Spinning tops



Oct. 25, 1955 2,721,418

J. A. PEABODY, SR

SPINNING TOP S Filed Aug. 22. 1950 United States Patent SPINNING TOPS J ohn A. Peabody, I Sn, Stockton; Calif; ApplicatibnAugustZZ, 1'9'50'Serial -No. 180,798

1 Claim. (Cl. 46-67) My invention relates to spinning tops and relates more particularly to a top adapted to be propelled by means disposed within the body of the top.

It is an object of my invention to provide a top of this character in which the body of the top itself is used as a compression chamber when a free, flowing, compressible substance is compressed or put under pressure and then liberated through jets in such a manner as to cause rotation in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction.

It is a further object of my invention to control the storage and liberation of the compressed substance used for power in the top.

Still a further object of my invention is to provide expansion and elasticity in the body of the top.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a top which will be economical to manufacture, being composed of but few parts, and highly efiicient and entertaining in use.

Other objects of my invention and the invention itself Will become more readily apparent by reference to the following description in which description reference will be made to the appended drawings, in which drawings:

Fig. l is a vertical sectional view of the top of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a separated view of the valve and cylinder of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side plan view of the shell portions of the top of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the rubber band of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is an enlargement of a portion of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a top sectional view of the shell and jet tubes of my invention taken on the line 66 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a view of the top of Fig. 1 taken on the line 77 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged, fragmentary view of the outlet valve of Fig. 1.

Referring now more particularly to the figures of drawing in all of which like parts will be designated by like reference characters, the top of my invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 7, inclusive, comprises a plurality of body portions; a disc-like top portion 1 centrally apertured at 2 to afford an opening through which a cylinder 7 may be projected, a pair of cylindrical band elements 3 and 4 and a pear-shaped lower body section 5. The body portion 5 is weighted at 6 as best shown in Fig. 1. The top portion 1 is internally threaded to receive the threaded upper periphery of the band element 3 and the section 5 is likewise internally threaded to receive the threaded lower periphery of the band element 4. The band 3 is of slightly less diameter than the band 4 and is telescopably disposed within a portion of the said band 4. A resilient band 20, preferably of rubber composition, and provided with outwardly flared rim portions 21 and 22 is adapted to have said rim portions snapped over the threaded ends of said bands to permit a limited expansion of the top body during rotation thereof.

Spinning movement is imparted to .the said top-bymeans of air propulsion achieved by piston: means: nowto beprovided in the weighted base portion 6 ofthe section 5 and said cylinder is provided with anupper cylinder portion 8 and alowercylinder portion .9. The wall of the upper cylinder is provided with ahorizontally. extending slot 10 for a purpose later-to be described:herein-andthe upper and lower cylinder portions are separated by a disc 11 centrally perforated at 11'. The base 12 of the cylinder is perforated at 13 and an inwardly operating flap valve 14 is hingedly secured to the inner wall 15 0f the cylinder to admit air into the cylinder 7 by means of an inclined bore 16 communicating therewith. A perforation 17 on the opposite wall of the cylinder adjacent the base portion thereof is provided to express air into the body of the top by means of a valveflap 18 secured to the outer wall of the cylinder adjacent the side perforation 17.

A piston 33 is provided with a T-shaped handle portion 19 screw-threaded thereon at the outer end and carries a gasket 23 adjacent its lowermost end portion, said gasket being telescoped over the end of said piston and retained thereon by a pair of knob-like protuberances, 24 and 25.

A pair of air discharge jet conduits 26, 27 centrally mounted upon the upper end of the cylinder 7 and communicating with the upper cylinder portion 8 are provided with reversely bent tapered ends 26 and 27 and discharge air pumped into the cylinder 7 during rotation of the top.

A handle 28 is screw-threaded over a stepped sleeve 29 having a socket portion 30 and said socket is provided with an aperture 31 which opens into the jets 26 and 27 when the sleeve 29 is telescoped within the upper cylinder portion 8. The portion of the sleeve 29 which is adapted to be inserted within the cylinder portion 8 is of such diameter as to be press-fitted Within said cylinder portion and is provided with a portion of lesser diameter immediately above such cylinder telescoped portion which is fitted within an inwardly stepped retainer ring 32 which is outwardly threaded to be secured to an inwardly threaded collar 34 fitted over the inner periphery of the main body portion 1.

In operation, the handle 28 is so disposed as to close the jets and the piston is reciprocated within the cylinder until pressure of air admitted at x and drawn into the expansible top body by means of the valve 13 and into the upper portion of the cylinder 10 is built up, then the handle 28 is turned until the opening 31 is aligned with the jets 26, 27 and the top will begin rotation.

During rotation, air is drawn through the cylinder and expressed through the jets 26 and 27 and the port openings 26" and 27" being disposed in an opposite direction will maintain a steady rotation of the top; air is expressed therethrough by the pressure built up in the body of the top as previously described.

Further, due to the flexible connection afforded by the flexible band 20 being employed to secure intermediate portions 3 and 4 of the top together, the top, in effect, has a certain expansion and elasticity which aids in the turning of the top about its axis.

It will be obvious that numerous and extensive departures may be made from the embodiments herein illustrated and described, without, however, departing from the spirit of my invention and the scope of the appended claim.

I claim:

A spinning top comprising a substantially hollow generally pear-shaped body portion, a weighted point portion, a cylinder disposed longitudinally medially of said body Pia-tented Oct. 25, 19.55

. 4 portion, an air inlet disposed in said weighted portion and References Cited in the file of this patent communicating with the atmosphere, the said cylinder UNITED STATES PATENTS being provided with a pair of apertures, one aperture communicating with said air inlet and the other aperture EJ611611 g With the body portion of the top, piston means disposed 5 2 065473 p f c 1936 vertically within said cylinder, a pair of air jets centrally 2393796 E u z 1946 mounted upon the uppermost end of the said cylinder and 24494O5 1948 communicating therewith, said jets being disposed trans- 4468 or an 5 versely within the uppermost portion of the body por- 8 Schaad 1949 tion and projecting outwardly thereof, said jets having re- 10 FOREIGN PATENTS versely bent ends and adapted to eject air received from 5 937 Great Britain Man 21 1894 said cylinder tangentially from said top body portion into 23:954 Great Britain Oct 1 1906 the atmmphere to 5pm the 484,592 Germany Oct. 18, 1929 

